News-Antique.com - Apr 27,2011 - It was this week in history - April 27, 1972 – that the crew of Apollo 16 safely returned to Earth from the Moon.
Nearly four decades after the Apollo 16 mission, space memorabilia remains one of the most popular collectibles niches worldwide.
To mark the anniversary of mankind’s fifth Moon landing, here is Wikicollecting’s list of the Top 10 pieces of Apollo 16 memorabilia.
See the original page at: http://en.wikicollecting.org/the-top-10-pieces-of-apollo-16-space-memorabilia
Or for more information, visit: http://en.wikicollecting.org/space-memorabilia
10) Apollo 16 Lunar Module Flown Engraved Spoon
Innovations meant that many Apollo astronauts were able to use normal eating utensils while in zero gravity.
This engraved spoon was used by Commander John W. Young to eat the rehydrated food, combined with a ‘spoon-bowl’ which prevented it floating away using a plastic zipper. From Young’s personal memorabilia collection, it was sold in March 2009 at Heritage Auctions for $10,157.50.
9) Apollo 16 Lunar Module Flown United States Flag
United States flags have traditionally been flown on space missions, and the most valuable are those that accompanied men to the Moon.
This 5.5" x 4" flag was aboard the Orion Lunar Module for the entire mission, and signed by Lunar Module Pilot Charles Duke (from whose personal collection it came). In March 2008 it was sold at a Heritage auction for $11,950.
8) Apollo 16 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion
Flown medallions are highly sought after by space collectors, and none more so than those from the personal collections of the astronauts involved.
This medallion (number 97 of the 98 flown aboard Apollo 16) features the mission insignia along with the names of the crew, and came from the personal collection of mission Commander John Young. It was sold by Heritage in November 2010 for $19,120.
7) Lunar Module Flown Star Chart and G&N Dictionary Star List
The star chart and dictionary star list used during the Apollo 16 mission allowed Duke and Young to find their way using the heavens for guidance, and was aboard the Orion capsule for the duration of the mission.
Each time the capsule hatch was opened, the cabin was exposed to the lunar surface and the chart is marked with smudges of genuine moon dust. The pair of items were sold by Heritage in October 2009 for $22,705.
6) Apollo 16 Lunar Module Flown Landing Site Map
This B&W printed lunar surface map was one of 24 used during the mission, and is the map that features Apollo 16’s landing spot in the Descartes Highlands region. Apollo 16 was the first lunar flight to explore the highlands area, and the map spent 72 hours aboard the Orion capsule during the mission.
Signed by both Charles Duke and John Young, and from Duke’s personal collection, it sold for $33,460 at a Heritage auction in October 2009.
5) Charles Duke’s needle nose pliers
The pliers were flown to the moon aboard the Orion Lunar Module, and stored aboard the lunar roving vehicle. Duke then transferred them to the Command Module Casper
